Community donation helps senior citizen program to assist Rutherford County elderly

Community Relations Director Hope Patterson and Executive Director Terri Deal of The Villages of Murfreesboro present a $1,000 check to Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh and SCAN coordinator’s E.T. and Clarence Guice. The funds were raised through a silent auction of Christmas trees and wreaths at the Villages.(Photo: Submitted by Rutherford County Sheriff's Office)

Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh said donations from organizations like the Villages allow the Sheriff’s Office volunteers to care for seniors through the SCAN program.

SCAN uses trained volunteers to assist seniors by delivering food, checking safety needs and conducting home visits, the RCSO said in a release. The food is donated by Midland Baptist Church’s Journey of Hope.

Approximately 80 seniors are currently enrolled in the free program, the release confirmed.

“There is always a need for volunteers,” Fitzhugh said. Volunteers are asked to donate 20 hours a month to the program.

The Villages donation will allow Murfreesboro seniors who need transportation to doctor’s visits to ride the Rover bus service and offer county senior citizens vouchers for Uber and Lyft, SCAN coordinator E.T. Guice said.